Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1254332
10 UCW JUNE 3-9, 2020 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Fayetteville veterans nursing home coronavirus cases by JEFF THOMPSON NEWS DIGEST Twenty-five percent of the patients of the North Carolina State Veterans Home in Fayetteville have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and officials say two residents have died, as of May 26. Cumberland County's Department of Public Health has con- firmed 36 cases at the nursing home for veterans. It is the largest of four veterans homes in North Carolina, with 142 occupants. e State Department of Military and Veterans Affairs contracts with Pruit- tHealth of Norcross, Georgia, to operate the facility located at 214 Cochran Ave. behind the VA Medical Center. A statement on PruittHealth's website says the facility is in 'Alert Code Red' status, meaning visitors and nonessential workers are prohibited from visiting. "e company has continued to implement enhanced infection control protocols, including in- creasing cleaning frequency, postponing communal activities, ceasing visitation," the company said.U.S. News and World Report has rated 15,000 American nursing homes for short-term and long-term care and noted, "North Carolina State Veterans Home in Fayetteville, North Carolina, has a short-term reha- bilitation rating of Below Average and a long-term care rating of Average. It is a large facility with 150 beds and has state ownership. Overall Rating: 2 of 5 (Based on data from August 2019 and earlier.)" Cumberland County High School graduation changes Cumberland County Schools has updated the local high school graduation schedule after receiv- ing feedback from graduating seniors, parents and principals. Graduating seniors will now be able to receive their diplomas between June 12 and June 19 at their schools. "I've heard a consistent mes- sage — students are ready to graduate and move forward with their post-secondary plans," said CCS Superintendent Dr. Marvin Connelly Jr. is revised graduation plan, which was approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the Cumberland County Public Health Director, allows graduating seniors to walk across the stage while family members look on. Graduations will be con- ducted in shifts with small groups of students and their guests arriving at prescheduled times. Gradu- ates may have a maximum of four guests accom- pany them. Face masks or face coverings must be worn by all attendees, except children under the age of two. High school principals have shared detailed overviews of their graduation plans with families. e school district will capture students' photos as they walk across the stage and produce a gradua- tion video for each high school, which will include a message from each principal and senior class presi- dent, along with a photo of each graduating senior. Medical center announces fellowship Cape Fear Valley Health System and Campbell University have received accreditation to launch a fellowship training program in cardiovascular disease at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. is is Cape Fear Valley Health's s first fellowship program. e three-year cardiology fellowship will begin in July. "is is another proud moment in the health system's history," said Michael Nagowski, chief executive officer for the Cape Fear Valley Health system. "Cape Fear Valley Medical Center has been nationally recognized by IBM Watson Health as a Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospital for 2018 and by Healthgrades as one of America's 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care and Coronary Intervention in 2019." Amol Bahekar, M.D., of Fayetteville Heart Center, has been named the fellowship program director. e fellowship program will enroll three physician residents per year, up to nine residents. Residents must complete three-year internal medicine resi- dencies before enrollment. Now in its third-year, Cape Fear Valley Health's physician residency pro- gram has grown to include 134 physician residents training in psychiatry, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, general surgery and emergency medicine, as well as a transitional rotating intern- ship. e program's goal is to address the growing physician shortage in rural North Carolina. Obtain a library book at the curb e Cumberland County Public Library is in- troducing contactless curbside pickup at all eight library branches. Curbside pickup is now avail- able Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., by appointment only. You can place orders through the library catalog or by calling 910-483-7727. Each library branch will have curbside orders bagged and ready for pickup at scheduled times. "e COVID-19 pandemic has required county staff to create innovative ways to continue delivering the exceptional services that Cumberland residents are accustomed to," said library director Jody Risacher. Library patrons will go to the main entrance, show their library card or ID through the glass door and then step back 10 feet. A staff member will open the door and place the curbside order on a table at the entrance. Once the door closes, the customer is free to pick up the order. Staff will follow established pro- cedures for returned items. A 72-hour quarantine of returned books is the safest and most effective way to disinfect them. e use of liquid disinfectants is harmful to the books and is not recommended. Eagle Feather graduation honors Cumberland County Schools Office of Indian Education has announced that 68 graduating American Indian seniors will be honored during a unique drive-thru Eagle Feather Ceremony on Wednesday, June 17, from 8 a.m.-noon, or urs- day, June 18, from noon-3 p.m., in the parking lot of the Educational Resource Center, at 396 Elementary Dr. in Fayetteville. Each senior will re- ceive an eagle feather in a keepsake box. Accord- ing to the Office of Indian Education, the feather symbolizes trust, honor, strength, wisdom, power and freedom and is revered as a sign of high honor. In Native American culture, it is believed that all things possess an inherent virtue, power and wisdom. e feather, for example, is a power- ful symbol that signifies honor and a connection between the owner, the creator and the bird from which the feather came. For additional informa- tion about the Eagle Feather Ceremony, email Indian Education Coordinator Rodney Jackson at rodneyjackson@ccs.k12.nc.us. JEFF THOMPSON, Reporter. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcom- ingweekly.com. 910-484-6200.